Method and apparatus for assembling drafts of sliced product



United States Patent [72] Inventors Fred H. Dickow;

Henry J. Dokter, and Ogden A. Clemens, Chicago, Illinois [21] Appl. No.663,584 [22] Filed Aug. 28, 1967 [45] Patented Nov. 3, 1970 [73]Assignee Swift & Company Chicago, Illinois a corporation of Delaware[54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING DRAFTS 0F SLICED PRODUCT 9Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 146/222, 146/94, 53/123, 99/174 [51] Int. Cl ..A22c 17/00,B26d 4/46, B65b 63/00 [50] Field of Search 146/94, 942, 95, 222; 53/123,23

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,310,261 7/1919 Van Berkel146/94 1,519,354 12/1924 Brown 146/94 2,126,458 8/1938 Englen 146/942,898,962 8/1959 Burnett 146/94 3,015,350 1/1962 Reicheletal. 146/943,145,828 8/1964 Hawley l46/94X Primary Examiner-W. Graydon AbercrombieAtt0rneys Edward T. McCabe and Charles E. Bouton ABSTRACT: Bacon issliced and laid out substantially flat on I a continuous web of materialsuch as paper. The bacon feed into the slicing blade is interruptedperiodically to denote the end of one draft and the beginning of anotherby a space on the web of material which is moved continuously.Interruption of the bacon feed initiates a timed countdown upon thecompletion of which a knife is energized to cut the web of material, ata downstream location, across the space between two drafts of slices. Anapparatus comprising a substantially conventional slicer and speciallydevised takeoff synchronizing devices are utilized. The slicer includesa continuously rotating blade and intermittently operated pusher foradvancing product into the former. The takeoff equipment comprises anendless belt trained about a pair of pulleys located adjacent the slicerblade and at a distance therefrom greater than the length of a draft ofslices. A continuous web of paper, or the like, is passed about thepulley adjacent the slicer so as to receive slices upon the upper runthereof. Beyond the belt is located a second conveyor, and anintermittently operable knife is positioned between the two. The knifeis actuated by an adjustable timer which, in turn, is actuated at thetime that the feed screw is halted.

- p an Patented Nov. 3, 1970 3,537,497

FR ED H. DJCKUW HENRY z]. DUKTER BEBE/VA CLEMENS ATTUHNEYQ Patemfed Nov.3, 1970 Sheet 3 of 4 m w N 1 Wm WC uxm K0 E M 35 WW ENA 1. T T RNE Y c,

Sheet of 4 IN VENTORS FRED H. DJE'KUW HENRY LZ'. DUKTER UGDE'N A CLEMENSf CWTTUENEY c;

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING DRAFTS F SLICED PRODUCT Thisinvention relates to the assembling of drafts of slices; and moreparticularly relates to an improved method and appuratus for assemblingdrafts of bacon slices laid out substantiully flat and adjacent oneanother. and a package formed therefrom.

Where product is sliced and prepackaged for sale to consumers, it isdesirable for the slices to be assembled in a manner that facilitatesultimate handling by the consumer. 1n the preparation of food productssuch as bacon and cheese, for example, the slices often tend to sticktogether and aredifficult to separate. 1n the past this difficulty hasbeen alleviated, to a minor extent, by shingling the slices. That is theslices are partially overlappedso as to expose each edge and a portionof each cut surface. While shingling allows the consumer to distinguishbetween slices, it often remains difficult to separate the slices.

Further relief of the problem has been obtained, in some cases, byinterleaving the slices with separate pieces of paper, or the like.While interleaving facilitates the separation of slices, it is expensiveand tends to obscure the purchasers view of the product.

It has also been proposed that bacon slices, for instance. could be laidout flat on a single sheet or web of packaging material which could thenbe either rolled or folded upon itself. While this procedure obviatesthe separation of slices, it tends to obscure the product and tends toresult in an unwieldy and inconvenient package. Because of variations inslab, and hence slice dimensions it is difficult to lay out slicesperfectly flat. Also, heretofore, when laying out slices in the lattermanner it has been difficult and uneconomical to rapidly separate draftsof a desired number of slices.

We have found, however, that the foregoing disadvantages can be overcomewhere equal numbers of slices are laid out substantially flat on sheetsof equal length which can subsequently be stacked in a carton or thelike. It is important that the Nhecttl beol'equul length and thus theslices may overlap to a minor extent to accommodate variations indimensions so long as the profile of slices appears relatively flatrather than arched or humped.

Accordingly it is a principal object of this invention to provide animproved method and apparatus for rapidly and economically assemblingdrafts of a desired number of slices laid out substantially flat uponsheets of packaging material, and to form a package therefrom.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedmethod and apparatus for assembling drafts of a desired number of slicesof product laid out substantially flat upon equal lengths of packagingmaterial which may be stacked one upon another so as to exposesubstantially the entire surface area of one draft of such slices.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for substantially continuously slicing product onto acontinuous web of packaging material so that the slices are laid out,flat substantially side by side, and then accurately severingthepackaging material at equal intervals so as to segregate drafts of adesired number of slices.

Basically the present method involves the receiving of each slice, as itis severed from a body of product, upon a moving and continuous web ofpackaging material. The web is moved at a constant speed selected so asto receive successive slices laid out substantially flat and adjacent toone another in nonovcrlapping, or only very slightly overlapping,configuration. The production of slices is briefly interrupted periodically as a desired number of slices is completed, thus leaving a vacantspace upon the web of material between the last slice of one draft andthe first slice of the next draft. Thereafter, at a point downstream ofthe slicer, the web is severed as each space on the web moves acrossthat point.

An apparatus for performing the foregoing method comprises, incombination with a slicing machine having an intermittentlyinterruptable product feed, a means for continuously driving a web ofpackaging material away from the discharge end of the slicing machine,an intermittently operable web cutting means spaced a distance beyondthe slicer, and a control means connected to the cutting means and tothe slicer feed to actuate the former in a timed relation tointerruption of the product feed,

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the drawings of a preferred embodiment of the apparatuswherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of a package of product according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2with the frame removed; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control features of thepresent apparatus.

it is intended by the present invention to assemble drafts of a selectednumber of slices upon separate sheets of packaging material which maythen be stacked and enwrapped by placing in cartons or another wrapper.Such a package is shown in FIG. 1 wherein slices of bacon on sheets 8are enclosed in a carton 9. The production of sliced bacon is arevealing illustration. Institutions charged with the feeding of largenumbers of people find it extremely convenient to receive the baconslices laid out substantially flat in groups of 12 or 16 slices persheet of parchment paper. Such sheets with bacon slices are preferablystacked in a rectangular carton containing a dozen or more such sheets.The chef or cook merely grasps the two ends of the uppermost sheet withhis hands and inverts same upon a large griddle. As the slices becomeheated the parchment paper is easily removed and there is no need toseparate the slices from one another. Household consumers find similarconvenience with one pound bacon packages comprised of three to fivesheets of parchment each having, for example, six to four slices ofbacon laid out substantially flat thereon. One or more of such :thcctsmay be easily inverted in a frying pan or the like. Silicone treatedparchment paper is preferred.

To produce such drafts of slices upon separate sheets it is preferred tosubstantially continuously lay out the slices on a continuous web ofparchment paper, or the like, and

thereafter to divide by cutting the parchment paper between drafts ofselected numbers of slices.

Those steps can be combined with the usual method of bacon slicing whichis to continuously feed a bacon belly into the path of a continuouslyrotating blade and to briefly interrupt the bacon feed after a number ofblade revolutions corresponding to the selected number of slices perdraft. The interruption need be only for one or a few revolutions of theblade to cause a detectable distinction between successive drafts. Wherepreviously slices have been shingled an interruption for several bladerevolutions was necessary to obtain a spacing between drafts. However,according to the present method where each slice is laid out flat, orwith only very slight overlap, a single blade revolution will result ina spacing substantially equal to or greater than the width of a slice.

The layout and spacing is dependent upon the speed at which the slicereceiving and takeoff apparatus is operated. According to the presentmethod, the latter is operated at a speed to move forward about oneslice width or more during the time it takes the slicer blade to makeone revolution. Preferably the slices are received upon a continuous webof packaging material, such as paper, that is moved away from the slicerat the aforementioned speed. Thus where the product feed of the slicingmachine is interrupted, a vacant space will be obtained on the web ofpaper. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, immediatelyupon the bacon feed being interrupted a time count is commenced. Duringthe time count the web will move a determinable distance and at thecompletion thereof the web is severed at a point downstream of theslicer. Preferably the latter point is spaced from the slicer a distancegreater than the length of the longest expected draft and preferably adistance that is a mixed number multiple of such length. That is, thedistance to the web cut off point should be a whole multiple plus afraction of the draft length. The time count is then adjusted to equalthe period necessary for the web to move the fractional portion of thatdistance and the result is that the web will always be cut traversely ina vacant space between slices one or more drafts removed from theslicing machine.

Thereafter the separated drafts are moved at a faster speed to separatethe severed portions of the web. Finally, the drafts may be packaged andhandled in any convenient manner.

A preferred apparatus for performing the foregoing method is shown inFIGS. 2 through 4. An essentially conventional slicer machine generallymay be seen in FIG. 2. The slicer includes a bed 12 and a blade 14, atone end thereof, rotatable in a vertical plane. For purposes of safetythe blade 14 is enclosed within a housing 16. A bacon belly, or otherproduct, is forced into the path of the rotating blade 14 by a pusher 18reciprocable upon the horizontal bed 12. The pusher 18 includes afollower 20 that is slidable on a guide rod 22 and is propelled throughits path by a power screw 24. The pusher 18 may be engaged with anddisengaged from the power screw 24, at the option of an operator, by asplit nut assembly 26 having an operating lever 28. The latter will beautomatically operated to disengage the split nut upon the pusher 18reaching the end of its stroke by a safety arm 30 mounted upon the sideof the bed 12 near the blade housing 16. Just before reaching that pointthe follower 20 will trip a limit switch 32 mounted on housing16.

The slicer blade 14 is driven through a knife shaft 34 extending from adrive housing 36 at the rear of the slicer generally 10. The power screw24 is also-driven through a clutch 38 mounted within the drive housing36. Both clutch 38 and knife shaft 34 may be powered from a singleelectric motor 40 mounted beneath the bed ofthe machine.

Conventional operation of this type of slicer involves advancing thepusher 18 for a certain number of blade revolutions and then halting thepusher for an additional number of blade revolutions. Motion of thepusher 18 is controlled by engaging and disengaging the clutch 38 which,in turn, is actuated from a control unit generally 42 mounted above theblade shaft 34 and driven in relation thereto. There are severalconventional control units available on the market and all areessentially revolution counters. The apparatus of the present inventioninvolves the combination of the foregoing conventional apparatus withthe elements hereinafter described.

At the blade, or discharge, end of the slicer generally 10, ispositioned a slice receiving conveyor generally 50. The latter extends arelatively short distance and is followed by a packaging conveyorgenerally 52, both conveyors and 52 being mounted upon a frame 54.

Concerning the slice receiving conveyor generally 50, an endless belt 58is trained about a drive pulley 60, adjacent the slicer 10, and an idlerpulley 62. A motor 64 is connected to pulley by means ofa drive chain66.

Rotatably mounted beneath the frame 54 on a spindle 68 is a roll of webmaterial 70. The web is trained about the belt 58 and drive pulley 60 soas to be carried upon the upper run of the former and to receivedirectly thereon bacon slices 72 thrown from the slicer generally 10.

Means are also provided to frictionally engage the web of material withthe endless belt 58 so as to cause it to be moved at the belt speed, andalternately to brake the web of material when the slicing machineoperation is shut down, as for instance when the slicing of a baconbelly is completed and the pusher 18 is being retracted for theinsertion of a new belly. Such means may be best seen in FIG. 3 .andcomprises a pivotable carriage 76 supporting at one side a clutch roll78,

which is parallel to the slice receiving conveyor drive pulley- 60, andat the other side supporting a brake roll 80. The carriage 76 is mountedupon a pivot shaft 82 suspended from the frame 54', and a pair ofsolenoids 84 and 86 are connected to the mo respective ends of thecarriage to alternatively raise and engage the clutch and brake rolls78, 80. The brake roll 80, when lifted by solenoid 86, will press theweb of material against a ridged brake bar 88 to halt movement of theweb.

Further concerning the packing conveyor generally 52, it is shown inH65. 2 and 3 to comprise an endless belt 94 trained about a pair ofpulleys 96, 98. Preferably pulley 96 is an idler pulley and is spacedashort distance from the idler pulley 62 of the slice receiving conveyorgenerally 50. The downstream pulley 98 is a drive pulley and isconnected to a motor 100, mounted beneath the frame 54, by a drive chain102.

A web cutting means generally is located between the two idler pulleys62 and 96 of the slice receiving conveyor 50 and the packing conveyor52, respectively. Such cutting means preferably includes a spring-loadedshear plate 112 mounted between the aforementioned pulleys with theupper edge thereof at about the level of the endless belts 58 and 94. Arotatable knife 114 is cooperatively mounted above and parallel theshear plate 112. The knife 114 is fixed longitudinally of a sleeve 116which in turn is secured to a shaft 118 that is rotated through a clutch120 by a separate drive motor 122. The clutch 120 is of a type that,when energized, will make only a single revolution.

It is critical that the length of the slice receiving conveyor generally50 be at least equal to the length of the longest expected draft ofslices, and preferably greater than such length by a fraction thereof.Stated differently the receiving conveyor should be a mixed number(whole number plus a fraction) multiple of the maximum expected draftlength. Otherwise it is essentially impossible to accurately synchronizeoperation of the web cutting means generally 110 with the slicergenerally 10. The means by which the apparatus is synchronized may bebest seen in FIG. 4. While the wiring circuit shown therein is utilizedto control the aforementioned motors operating various parts of theapparatus, the system illustrated does not actually power such motors.However, motor-control relays are shown, such relays controlling thepower circuits to the motors in a manner well known to those skilled inthe electrical arts, and are denoted herein by corresponding referencenumbers bearing the subscript a".

The control means shown in FlG. 4 is connected across a l 10 voltalternating current source and is disconnectable therefrom byappropriate fuses and a master switch 130. Two main lines 132 and 134are provided. When the master switch is closed a signal lamp 136, placedacross lines 132, 134 will indicate a power-on condition. The slicercontrol unit generally 42 is also connected across lines 132, 134 andwill be energized when the master switch 130 is closed. However, it ispreferred that the control unit 42 be indirectly connected through aconstant voltage transformer 138 to guard against the possibility ofvoltage surges in the power supply.

The remainder of the apparatus, while connected across lines 132, 134,will be energized only upon the closing of certain manual switches suchas a motor start switch 140 which is connected in series with a bank ofmotor control relays 40A, 64A and 122A which energize respectively theslicer motor 40, slice receiving conveyor motor 64 and the web severingknife motor 122. A manual stop switch 142 is connected in series withswitch 140 and a self-holding relay 144, energizable from the motorcontrol relay 40A, the latter being connected in parallel to the manualstart switch 140. Similarly all components down line from theaforementioned motor circuit can be subsequently energized only if theaforementioned motors are operative, by reason of a relay 146 positionedto close a pair of contacts in main line 132 only upon actuation fromthe motor control relay 122A. It is to be understood that when theslicer motor 40 is running the control unit 42 will be mechanicallyresponding to the revolutions of the slicer blade 14 and thus will bemechanically functioning.

Slicing is commended upon manual operation of a triple bank switch 150.A first set of contacts 152 are momentarily opened, thereby, todisconnect a circuit to the limit switch 32 so as to insure that theslice control unit generally 42 is in condition to be placed in adrafting mode to control both dwell and slicing functions. A second setof contacts 154 are momentarily closed to energize the motor controlrelay 100A to start the packing conveyor motor 100. A holding circuitfor the motor control relay 100A and the remainder of main line 132comprising a relay 184 is closed thereby and will remain closed when thecontacts 154 are again opened. A third set of contacts 156 aremomentarily closed thereby energizing a relay 158 to briefly close acircuit in the slicer control unit 42. The latter is thereby placed inthe drafting mode and the slicing operation will start first with thespace, or no slice, phase of the slicing cycle.

It will be noted that when the first set of contacts 152 of switch 150were opened the circuit to the limit switch 32 was broken. Initially,upon closing the motor start switch 140, and before actual slicing is tobe commenced, a separate controller start switch 160 should also beactuated, either manually or by a mechanical linkage to the start switch140. Also initially the split nut 26 should be disengaged from the powerscrew 24, Switch 160 by-passes the limit switch 32 to energize a relay162 that in turn closes two sets of contacts 164 and 166. Contacts 164provide a self-holding circuit to maintain the relay 162 energized untilthe slice switch 150 is actuated to open the contacts 152. Contacts 166are in series with a first set of contacts 168 of a space controllerrelay 170. The latter relay is energized when the slicer control unit 42is in the space phase of a slicing cycle. When both relays 162 and 170are energized, and contacts 166 and 168 are both closed, another relay176, to be hereinafter explained, will be energized. However, whentheslice switch 150 is actuated, although the control unit 42 is putinto space phase by the actuation of relay 158, the relay 162 isdeenergized and the circuit to relay 176 cannot be completed again untilthe slicerfeed pusher 18 reaches the end of its path and closes thelimit switch 32. n

Meanwhile it should be noted that the space phase relay 170simultaneously closes two additional sets of contacts 172 and 174.

When the conditions are met to energize relay 176 three sets ofcontacts, 178, 180 and 182 are actuated. Contacts 178 are closed toprovide a self-holding circuit for the relay 176. Contacts 180 areopened to thereby cause a change in the slicer control unit 42 circuitto shift the latter to a continuous mode or idle condition. Contacts 182are opened in the main line 132 to deenergize the motor control relay100A, and thus stop the packing conveyor 52.

When the slicer control unit generally 42 is thus placed in a continuousmode, or idle,,-the space phase relay 170 is deenergized, opening thecontacts associated therewith, and a slice phase relay 188 is energized,actuating clutch 38. When in continuous mode the power screw 24 will beengaged with the motor through clutch 38 and will turn continuously(hence split nut 26 should be disengaged) and this condition willcontinue until switch 150 is actuated to close contacts 156 and energizerelay 158 to shift the control unit 42 to the drafting mode (by whichtime the split nut should be engaged).

However, before the slicer pusher 18 closes the limit switch 32 and whenrelay 158 has placed the slicer control unit generally 42 into adrafting mode, the space phase relay 170 will first be energized for oneor a few revolutions of the slicer blade and then the slicer controlunit 42 will deenergize relay 170 and energize the slice phase relay 188for a selected number of slice revolutions. The latter closes one set ofcontacts to energize the slicer feed clutch 38 through and an ACrectifier 190. Thus the power screw 24 will be turned to advance thepusher 18 so long as the split nut 26 is engaged. At the end of theselected number of slicer blade revolutions the slicer control unitgenerally 42 will again deenergize relay 188, thereby disengaging clutch38 to stop the pusher 18, and reenergize the space phase relay 170. Solong as limit switch 32 is not closed this will have no effect on theoperating mode of the slicer control unlt. However. both sets ofcontacts 172 and 174 are closed during the space phase. Contact 172energizes a web control relay 192 which has three contacts 194,

196 and 198. Contacts 194 provide a self-holding circuit to maintain therelay 192 energized when contacts 172 are again opened upon the controlunit going to the slice phase. Contacts 196 open to deenergize the paperbrake solenoid 86; and contacts 198 close to energize the paper clutchsolenoid84. Both solenoids 84 and 86 are operated at a reduced voltageof about 10 volts obtained through a reduction transformer 200. Itshould be noted that the paper clutch and paper brake will remain inthis condition until contacts 182 of relay 176 are opened to disconnectthe main line 132.

The closing of contacts 174 upon the energizing of space phase relay 170(which occurs each time the slicer control unit generally 42 interruptsthe bacon feed so as to leave a vacant space on the web of packagingmaterial) completes a circuit to a primary timer 204,and to a holdingrelay 202, Timer 204 is adjustable by an operator in accordance with thelength of a draft of sliced product (which will vary in accordance withthe speed of conveyor 50 and the number of slices selected for a draft).Upon being energized when contacts 174 are closed the primary timer 204begins a count down of the selected time interval. Upon the completionof the interval the timer 204 will energize timer relay 206 which inturn closes its contacts completing a circuit to the knife clutch andalso to a secondary timer 208, As previously mentioned the knife clutchcauses one revolution of knife 114 to sever the web material. Thesecondary timer 208 upon completion of a timed period, usually shorterthan the period of the primary timer 204, energizes a relay 210 to opencontacts in the line serving the primary timer 204. This deenergizes theprimary timer causing it to reset and open its relay contacts 206 whichconsequently deenergizes the secondary timer 208 causing it to reset andto reclose its contacts. Thus the timing elements are ready to repeattheir function when the space phase relay again closes contacts 174.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention ashereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit andscope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposedas are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An improved method for assembling drafts of product slices as saidslices are cut from a body of product by a slicer, said methodcomprising: receiving each slice as it is severed from said body upon a,continuous web of material at a first point; continuously moving saidweb of material in a direction and constant speed away from said pointso as to receive successive slices laid out substantially flat andadjacent one another; periodically interrupting the production of slicesafter a desired number have been severed for a brief interval whilecontinuing to move said web whereby to leave vacant spaces betweendrafts of slices received thereon; and automatically cutting said webacross each of said spaces at a second point at a distance downstream ofsaid first point.

2; The method of claim 1 including the step of commencing a time countupon interrupting said production and then cutting said web across saidspaces at a second point at a distance downstream of said first pointupon completion of said time count, said distance being the product of amixed number multiplied by the length said web moves at said speedduring the production of a draft of slices, and said time count beingadjusted to the intervals necessary for said web to move an amount equalto said length multiplied by the fractional portion of said mixed numberat said speed.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the separated drafts are conveyedbeyond said second point at a relatively greater speed so as to furtherspace the separated drafts.

4. An improved apparatus for assembling drafts of sliced product incombination with a slicer wherein a blade is operated continuously and ablock of product is advanced thereto for periods to produce a draft ofslices and halted briefly for intervals to distinguish said drafts, saidimproved apparatus comprising: web driving means positioned adjacent thedischarge end of said slicer and powered to move a substantiallycontinuous web of material in a direction away therefrom at a givenconstant speed sufficient to receive successive slices laid outsubstantially flat and adjacent one another; an intermittently operablecutting meansmounted transversely of said web driving means at adistance from said slicer; and a control means connected to said cuttingmeans and to said slicer, said control means operating to interrupt theslicer feed briefly after a draft of a desired number of slices havebeen severed and to actuate said cutting means thereafter upon a timecount of selected duration following said feed interruption.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said distance between said slicerand said cutting means is a multiple of the length of the draft ofslices and a mixed number, and said time count is the interval requiredto move at said given speed a distance equal to said length times thefractional portion of said mixed number.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said control means includes a timerand said web cutting means is driven through a clutch connected to saidtimer.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said web driving means comprises anendless belt trained about a pair of pulleys wherein one pulley isadjacent the discharge end of said slicer; means to drive said belt atsaid speed; a supply holder for a roll of web material positionedbeneath said endless belt wherefrom the web is trained about said onepulley and across the upper run of said belt; and engaging meanspositioned beneath said belt and operable to press said web against saidbelt so as to be movable therewith.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the web cutting means comprises ananvil and cooperating knife, said knife being rotatable about alongitudinal shaft set transversely of said endless belt beyond theother of said pair of pulleys, and a clutch connected between a drivemeans and said shaft and said clutch being actuated by said controlmeans.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control means includes a timerand said clutch is connected to said timer, and the distance betweensaid slicer and said knife is a multiple of the length of a draft ofslices and a mixed number, and said time count is the interval requiredto move at said given speed a distance equal to said length times thefractional portion of said mixed number.

